For the first time in his career Johan Santana is a free agent. The lefthander hits baseball's offseason player maker because of the New York Mets' decision to buy out his contract.

Santana comes with a caveat: He'll be 35 in March and has been beset by injuries in recent seasons. Once one of baseball's brightest starting pitchers, he was a middle of the road hurler with the Mets.

That's not to say his time with the club is over. The Mets could bring him back with a less expensive contract as they search for pitching help.

There's plenty for Santana to do to convince any team he's worthy for 2014. Shoulder surgery that kept him out in 2013 was his second in three years. He also missed the 2011 season. Much depends on his rehab, in which Santana resumed throwing in October.

The Met decided to pay a $5.5 million buyout rather than exercise a $25 million option to retain his services. Friday's decision completes a $137.5 million, six-year contract that was agreed to before the 2008 season.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner with the Minnesota Twins, Santana was 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA with the Mets. In 2012, he pitched the first no-hitter in club history. Soon after he went on the disabled list en route to his second shoulder repair.